Darta Zunte, the first Estonian skeleton athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, has completed six official training runs in Milan Cortina ahead of her upcoming competitions. This season has been crucial for her as she aims to establish herself among the top competitors in women's skeleton. During the training sessions, Zunte has recorded times that give her a possibility of finishing around 20th place, with her best time being 59.03 seconds, which she achieved during the initial training on Wednesday. However, it's notable that she was 1.93 seconds behind the leader, highlighting the competitive nature of the event.

Leading up to the Olympics, Zunte’s performances are pivotal not just for her personal aspirations but also for the visibility of skeleton sports in Estonia, a country that has seen limited representation in winter sports at the international level. The next four competitive runs will be critical as she seeks to convert her training successes into actual race performance. With 25 athletes participating in the women's skeleton, each run will be pivotal in determining the final standings and medal prospects.

The first two competitions are scheduled for February 13, with the remaining two on Saturday, and they will culminate in the determination of medal winners. Zunte’s commitment and performance reflect the dedication of athletes representing smaller nations in global events, and her journey could inspire a newer generation of athletes in Estonia and beyond.